This book is about education, learning, rational inquiry, philosophy, science studies, problem solving, academic inquiry, global problems, wisdom and, above all, the urgent need for an academic revolution. Despite this range and diversity of topics, there is a common underlying theme. Education ought to be devoted, much more than it is, to the exploration real-life, open problems; it ought not to be restricted to learning up solutions to already solved problems - especially if nothing is said about the problems that provoked the solutions in the first place. A central task of philosophy ought to be to keep alive awareness of our unsolved fundamental problems.

The essays in this volume seek to provoke a concerted effort to transform our institutions of learning so that they become rationally and effectively devoted to helping us learn how to create a wiser world.

Our most serious problems of living are so grim, so imbued with suffering, wasted lives and unnecessary death, that the idea of approaching them in a playful spirit seems sacrilegious. We need to keep alive tackling of intellectual problems so that playful capacities can be exercised - if for no other reason (and other reasons there are, of course, aplenty). There are two really worthy impulses behind all rational inquiry: delight and compassion.

"Maxwell... makes a powerful case for a revolution in philosophy – something for which he has been calling for 30 years – but, despite having already published seven books on the theme, his voice, sadly, has gone unheeded."

Oct 19, 2016

Source: Educational Theory

Credit: Nimrod Aloni

"Global Philosophy by Nicholas Maxwell is a timely and important book… a passionate, authentic, and morally committed call for moving from philosophical discourse to social and political engagement."

Jan 1, 2016

Source: Research Trends

Credit: Nader N. Chokr

"Could a more likely explanation for the relative neglect of Maxwell's work be due to the institutional inertia and entrenched (disciplinary) conservatism of the academic world and the philosophical community in particular?... Maxwell’s latest book as well as in his work for the past 40 years… are certainly relevant to our efforts in successfully confronting and solving some of the major (global/glocal/local) problems afflicting our world."

"Maxwell's key message is a very valid one and yet remains to be fully acknowledged and appreciated: As Maxwell already pointed out in 1984 and 2007 we need to move "from knowledge [inquiry] to wisdom [inquiry]" in university education and beyond; we urgently need to address our fundamental problems of living by bringing all the values and capacities to bear that we can muster!"